Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (shoulder, back) will return this Sunday on the road in Houston against the top-rated Texans defense in Week 16. He practiced in full all week and was removed from the team's injury report heading into Sunday's game. Smith has failed to pass over 175 yards in five of his last eight starts, and the Texans have held opposing quarterbacks to a league-best 12.9 fantasy points per game this season. In his previous start in Week 14 against the Denver Broncos, Smith completed 13 of his 21 pass attempts for 116 yards and one touchdown. In Week 16, the veteran quarterback will need to rely on rookie running back Ashton Jeanty and tight end Brock Bowers for short, quick passes as the Texans' defense allows quarterbacks a mere 2.73 seconds to throw, which is tied for first in the league. Only desperate two-QB Superflex league fantasy managers should consider the 35-year-old Smith as a starter in Week 16.

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Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker failed to haul in a single catch on three targets in the team's 31-0 defeat against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 15. The 24-year-old pass catcher has a terrible matchup in Week 16 on the road against the Houston Texans and their top-rated defense. Tucker is primarily an intermediate-to-deep threat with his 10.5 average air yards per target. Still, the Texans are giving up an average of 5.1 passing yards per play this season, which is likely to limit Tucker's upside. Since Week 9, Tucker has averaged a 96% snap share and a near-perfect route participation rate, but has only 17 receptions for 185 yards and one touchdown over that span. The third-year wide receiver is still getting ample opportunities to produce, which may be appealing to deep league fantasy managers. However, Tucker is being profiled as a WR4/Flex and is outside starting lineups in most Week 16 formats.

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Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz has emerged as a top-10 tight end this season as one of the primary options in his team's passing attack. Even though the Raiders have been good against the position this season, Schultz has been consistent enough to still be a good option for your fantasy lineups in standard-sized leagues. Schultz had eight catches for 76 yards and a touchdown last week against the Cardinals, and he has at least six catches in five of his last seven games. He's averaging 5.0 catches for 46.4 receiving yards per game this season and is a PPR beast. He gets plenty of targets and catches, so even though his yardage isn't always spectacular, he's a strong starter. In RotoBaller's Week 16 rankings, Schultz is ranked as the No. 8 TE.

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Cleveland Browns wide receiver Cedric Tillman surprised fantasy managers by quickly clearing the league's concussion protocol before the team's Week 15 loss against the Chicago Bears. However, Tillman only saw six snaps, ran just one route, and did not see a target in the Windy City, again surprising fantasy managers, but in a different way. The third-year wideout was not listed on the injury report heading into Week 16 at home against the Buffalo Bills, but Tillman is on the fringe of fantasy relevance. Tillman has failed to score double-digit PPR points or see more than four targets since Week 2, despite having a 64% snap share and 68% route participation rate. Even though the anticipated game script against the pass-funnel Bills in Week 16 is likely to benefit Tillman. Still, he is difficult to trust in the fantasy playoffs and is mainly a flyer at best in deep leagues.

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Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins has established himself as the team's secondary wide receiver behind Nico Collins, but he remains a very volatile play from week-to-week since the team prefers to rely on its defense and running the ball instead of airing it out. Higgins only had one catch for four yards last week after hauling in at least three catches in five straight weeks. He should be able to bounce back in a favorable matchup against the Raiders, and he does have four touchdowns on the season. The rookie from Iowa State has upside enough to take a flier on if you are desperate in deep leagues, but he's only the No. 45 WR in RotoBaller's rankings, making him an option best left on the bench if possible this week.

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Houston Texans wide receiver Christian Kirk (illness) has a questionable tag for Sunday's matchup against the Raiders after missing practice on Friday. The veteran slot receiver has been in a minimal role lately for the Texans, playing just 16 snaps on offense in Week 15 against the Cardinals and not getting a target. He only had one catch in the last three games combined and has zero or one catch in six of his last seven contests. He's only the No. 83 WR in RotoBaller's Week 16 rankings, so despite a favorable matchup against the Raiders, he isn't a good option even if he does manage to play through his illness. If he's out, Xavier Hutchinson and rookie Jaylin Noel could get a little more work.

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Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders is coming off his worst game as a starter, and there is little respite in Week 16 against the Buffalo Bills. As an encore to his 33.5 fantasy points showing in Week 14 against the Tennessee Titans, Sanders posted just 3.5 fantasy points against the Chicago Bears in Week 15, completing 18 of his 35 pass attempts for 177 yards and throwing three interceptions. Sanders' 30.3 quarterback passer rating last week was his lowest as a starter this season and the worst rating for all starting quarterbacks in Week 15. The road does not get easier for the late-round rookie as the Bills' defense has held opposing quarterbacks to an average of 13.4 fantasy points per game since Week 8. However, Sanders should have more time in the pocket this week than in previous weeks. Since starting in Week 12, Sanders has faced a 46% pressure rate, the highest in the league, while the Bills' defense boasts a below-average pressure rate of 34.2%. Nonetheless, for Week 16, Sanders is a desperation deep-league Superflex option for fantasy managers, once again.

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Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy may be the team's WR1, but he has fallen behind rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. in targets, receptions, and yards for the season; a trend that is unlikely to reverse in Week 16 against the Buffalo Bills. Despite playing 96% of the team's snaps and running a route on all 42 drop-backs in Week 15 against the Chicago Bears, Jeudy managed to haul in just two of his four targets for 22 yards. The veteran wide receiver has failed to gain rapport with rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who prefers to target fellow rookie tight end Fannin Jr. However, the Bills routinely limit opposing tight ends to single-digit fantasy points and are the hardest matchup for that position in the league, which may benefit Jeudy in Week 16. Jeudy still offers big-play upside, and Sanders should have additional time in the pocket this week to take deep shots, which gives him modest upside against the Bills at home this week. Jeudy is a high-risk, low-end WR3 option for deep league fantasy managers and is difficult to trust in Week 16.

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Houston Texans running back Jawhar Jordan had an impressive NFL debut last week, taking 15 carries for 101 rushing yards against the Cardinals. The sixth-round pick from the 2024 NFL Draft out of Louisville had yet to make an NFL appearance until last week, and despite his impressive debut, it's not clear what his role will be as the Texans host the Raiders. Both Woody Marks (ankle) and Nick Chubb (ribs) are questionable, and if either is out or limited, Jordan could pick up significant work. He is high-risk since he could end up with just a few carries, but the potential is there for another good game if he gets chances against the Raiders, who have been a favorable matchup for opposing running backs, especially lately. Jordan is the RB No. 55 this week in RotoBaller's rankings, so he is a very high-risk play, but if he gets opportunities, he showed enough potential last week to be a fascinating fantasy football sleeper.

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Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins had his first multi-touchdown game of the season last week, hauling in three of his four targets for 85 yards and two scores. He has at least three catches in each of his 13 games this season and has racked up 1,001 receiving yards to go with his seven total touchdowns. Collins usually gets more targets than he did last week, but the Texans played from comfortably ahead of the Cardinals. A similar game script could be loading for this week against the Raiders, but Collins still brings plenty of upside as C.J. Stroud's go-to target in every scenario. Collins is the No. 6 WR in RotoBaller's Week 16 rankings, and he can be started confidently in all formats for this matchup with the Raiders, who have allowed 16 WR touchdowns in their 14 games this season.

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New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs has recorded three of his five lowest yardage totals of the season over the past three games, collecting 26 yards or less in each contest. The 32-year-old's snaps have seemingly been managed all season, and he's never quite gotten up to a near-every-snap role, maxing out at a 68.7% snap share in Week 11. The veteran's playing time has dipped since then, logging 50% of the snaps or less in the past three games, accounting for three of his four lowest marks of the season. Diggs has still put together a solid season in his first year with the Patriots and holds plenty of upside for receptions as Drake Maye's No. 1 target. However, given the recent struggles, he profiles more as a WR3 for Week 16's matchup against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football.

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Denver Broncos tight end Evan Engram has had a disappointing first season with the team, averaging a career low in receptions (3.2), yards (27.6), and targets (4.9) with just one touchdown in 13 games. The 31-year-old had his best performance of the season out of the team's bye in Week 13 against the Washington Commanders, catching six of nine targets for 79 yards while posting his highest route share of the season (68.8%). The former Jacksonville Jaguars tight end has managed just three catches for 20 yards on five targets over the past two games and posted his lowest route share (33.3%) since Week 1 in last Sunday's win against the Packers. Engram is firmly fourth on the totem pole for targets at this stage of the season for the Broncos, earning a 13.1% target share since Week 10. He doesn't profile as a viable fantasy option outside of deeper leagues for Sunday's game against his former team.

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Houston Texans running back Nick Chubb (ribs) is questionable for this week's home game against Las Vegas, but he was able to get in full practices on Thursday and Friday, so he's trending towards being able to return. He could end up as the primary running back, depending on the status of Woody Marks (ankle), who is also questionable. Chubb has 472 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the year, and he has been a solid grinder even though his big-play upside seems to be mostly behind him at this point in his career. Chubb is the No. 46 RB in RotoBaller's rankings this week, making him too high-risk to play in most formats. If Marks is ruled out, Chubb would have touchdown-dependent flex potential, but Jawhar Jordan, last week's hero, could also be in the mix to still limit Chubb's upside. Facing the Raiders is a favorable spot, though, so whoever gets the carries for Houston should be a good fantasy play.

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Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason has taken a backseat to Aaron Jones Sr. since his return in Week 8. His fantasy value has predictably cratered since that point, averaging just 5.6 PPR points per game with zero top 12 weekly finishes at the position. The 26-year-old has only exceeded 50 rushing yards once in the last eight games after surpassing that mark in five of the first six games to begin the season. Mason has at least been the preferred runner when the Vikings reach the red zone, leading the team with seven of 11 RB carries inside the 20 since Week 12. Still, Mason's fantasy ceiling is capped with no value added as a receiver. He has a favorable matchup on Sunday against the Giants' 31st-ranked rushing defense, but Mason is still tough to trust as anything more than an RB3 in Week 16.

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Houston Texans running back Woody Marks (ankle) was set up for success last week, but he was forced to leave the game after just seven carries. If he does play, he'll be a strong option against the Raiders, but the Texans will be cautious with their rookie rusher. Last week, before his injury, he ran for 30 yards and caught his only target for eight yards. He still had a decent fantasy day since he had a touchdown on what was called a fumble recovery rather than a carry, when a goal-line snap went through C.J. Stroud's legs straight to Marks. Marks didn't practice at all on Wednesday or Thursday, but was able to get a limited session on Friday before earning his questionable tag. If he plays, he'll be a solid RB2, since he's ranked as the RB No. 17 in RotoBaller's rankings. The Raiders have allowed 16 running back touchdowns on the season, including seven in the last four games, so whoever gets the work in Houston's backfield should be in position for a strong showing on Sunday.

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Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has helped the Texans to six straight wins and is coming off one of his best games of the season. He'll look to keep rolling in a favorable spot against the visiting Raiders on Sunday in the late wave of games. Stroud threw for three touchdowns and 260 yards last week against the Cardinals and has posted over 250 passing yards in three of his last four full games (not counting his early exit due to a concussion). Stroud is up to 15 touchdowns on the season, and he's been especially sharp at home with eight touchdowns and just one interception. The Texans' backfield is banged up with both Woody Marks (ankle) and Nick Chubb (ribs) questionable for this contest, so Stroud may have to pass a little more even if the Texans play from ahead. In this favorable spot, Stroud is ranked the No. 13 QB in RotoBaller's Week 16 rankings, making him a great start in two-QB leagues but a low-end option in single-quarterback formats.

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Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington has shown flashes of play-making ability and good upside, and he has clearly been the team's second receiver behind Jaylen Waddle. However, his production has been inconsistent overall, and he'll be working with a new QB in a tough matchup this week, so he's not a strong fantasy option in most standard formats. Washington only had one catch on one target last week and has yet to reach 50 receiving yards in any game this season. With the whole passing game stuck in neutral, the Dolphins are changing from Tua Tagovailoa to Quinn Ewers for this week's matchup, which could jump-start the offense, or the team's passing game could continue to scuffle. With so much uncertainty and a low floor, Washington is only the No. 69 WR in RotoBaller's rankings, meaning he should be on the bench or on the waiver wire in most leagues.

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Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller caught a pair of touchdown passes in his team's Monday Night Football loss to the Steelers, giving him six touchdowns in just six full games this season. He's in a great matchup this week against the Bengals, who allow more fantasy points to tight ends than any other team in the NFL by a wide margin. Waller has shown he can still be a key contributor, especially near the end zone, but he will be working with a new quarterback this week as the Dolphins turn to rookie Quinn Ewers under center instead of Tua Tagovailoa. Ewers could look to Waller even more, especially in such a juicy matchup, but there's also a chance that the rookie can't get much going or focuses on other options. He's a volatile play, but he has enough upside to still be a solid starting option, so he's ranked as the No. 9 TE in RotoBaller's Week 16 rankings.

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Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle has clearly been the Dolphins' go-to wide receiver since Tyreek Hill (knee) sustained a season-ending injury, but this week against the Bengals, he'll be working with a new QB, which makes him much higher risk. Last week against the Steelers, Waddle only managed two catches for 26 yards in the Dolphins' defeat. Since that loss eliminated the team from playoff contention, it was also likely the end of the season for Tua Tagovailoa, who will be replaced by Quinn Ewers for this week's matchup. Waddle has turned his 90 targets into 59 catches for 838 receiving yards and six touchdowns this season, and he should remain the focus of the passing game with a high ceiling. The rookie QB taking over does raise Waddle's risk, though, which is why he's slid to no. 24 in RotoBaller's WR rankings this week, making him a WR3 or flex play in standard leagues, instead of a reliable WR2.

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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee/ankle) missed his second consecutive practice on Friday, after aggravating his PCL injury last week. With the 49ers squaring off against the Colts on Monday night, the 25-year-old gets an extra day to get onto the practice field before his game status is determined. Should Pearsall be unavailable, Kendrick Bourne could step up to fill the void after reclaiming his role as San Francisco's WR3 last week. Christian McCaffrey's target share would rebound from his season-low in Week 15, and Jauan Jennings might see a few extra targets. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has expressed optimism about Pearsall's availability in Week 16, but fantasy football managers will want to keep a close watch for the final injury report before deciding what to do.

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